Extension table



May 20, 1947. T. E. MCFALL EXTENSIQN TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 4,1942 May 20, 1947.

T. E. MCFALL EXTENSION TABLE Filed May 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 -HHHUiimrl- May 20, 1947.

1j. E. McFALl.-

EXTENSION TABLE Filed may 4 1942 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 vllllllllll IIIIJ IlllllllFllllllll .0.a l .iLiw

| i... -1FL Patented May 20, 1947 EXTENSION TABLE Thuriow E. McFall,Sparta, Mich., assignor to Michigan Artcraft Company, Sparta, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application May 4, 1942, Serial No. 441,636

2 Claims. (Cl. S11- 42) rlhis invention relates to a drop leaf extensiontable. Primarily the invention is directed to an extension table of thecharacter mentioned in which the permanent horizontal top member of thetable is solid or undivided.

In general heretofore, drop leaf extension tables have such permanenttop member divided into two parts which are moved away from each otherwhen the table is opened for extension and for the reception of llers inthe open space between the two parts of the permanent table top. Whenthe table is at its smallest size, not extended, there is a separationapparent between the two parts of the table top which is not'onlyunsightly, the whole table top not presenting a smooth and unbrokensurface, but particularly at the division may have a slight projectionof one part of the top above the other either wholly or partly and ateither one or both sides of the division separation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drop leaf extensiontable which when not in use will occupy relatively small space. .Also byraising the drop leaves to horizontal'position a table having aneffective top in sufficient area for many purposes will be produced; yetthe area of the table may be greatly increased by extension andsupplying of filler leaves to increase the supporting area of the table.The construction is also practical and economical to produce and may bemanufactured commercially at low cost. Moreover, the table which Ihavedevised is strong and durable and has a life equal, it is believedsuperior, to that of other tables of drop leaf extension character. l

An understanding of the invention may be had from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Fig. l is an end elevation of a table embodying my invention showing thetable in its least space occupying condition.

Fig. 2 is a plan Viewl of the table with an initiation of extension ofsuch table at one side.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the table extended toone side for a distance and the space nlled with suitable filler leaves.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse section illustrating thespecial form of ller leaves used with and forming a part of myinvention.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the table extended in both directions away fromthe central single piece permanent top.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the table shown in Fig. 5 as it appears inuse after extension and addition of filler leaves.

Fig. '7 is a plan View of a different structural form or embodiment ofmy invention, and

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section through the upper portionthereof with filler leaves in place.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the dilerentiigures of the drawings.

The permanent horizontal top of the table indicated at I is ofrectangular form. At its longer edges drop leaves 2 and 3 are hingedlymounted by means of hinges 4 and have association with such longer edgesof the top member l whereby when the drop leaves are raised tohorizontal position a smooth table surface will be provided. At each ofthe longer edges of the top member I it is grooved to form a groove `5of the shape shown in Fig. 3, and the adjacent edges of the drop leaves2 and 3 are correspondingly shaped as ribs indicated at E to fit and llthe grooves when raised to operative position. In order to provide forproper cooperation between the grooved edges 5 of the top member I andthe ribbed edges 6 of the drop leaves 2 and 3, the hinges 4 areconnected to the upper edges of cross rails I5 and to the drop leaves attheir inner faces. The hinges are spaced from the upper horizontal edgeof each leaf, when the latter is in lowered position, a distancesubstantially equal to the greatest vertical dimension of the grooveformed at the longer edge of the table top I.

A central pedestal I is secured at its upper end to the under side ofthe top member I midway between its sides and ends. The top member Iadjacent each end has a downwardly extending end board 8 of less lengththan the width of the top member I, at each end of which there is atleast one (there may be more than one) horizontally projecting pin `9.

A pair of extension slides is associated with and located at the underside of the top member I. The middle slide member I0 of each'of the pairof slides is permanently secured to, underneath and transversely of thetop member I a short distance within the end boards 8. Outer extensionslide members IIL and I2 of conventional structure are associated withthe middle slide member l0 and are extensible to one side of the topmember I, while the inner extension slide members lia and I2a arelikewise associated together and with the middle slide members Ill forextension the other way from the top member I.

The end slide members I2 and I2a are permanently secured to and lieabove the bottoms I3 of end box structures each including vertical endsI4 secured at each end of the bottom I3 and lying outside of the endslides I2 at one side of the table and further outside of the end slidesI2a at the other end of the table. Each box structure is completed by avertical rail I- permanently connected with the bottom I3 and the endsI4 and may be secured to the outer ends of the slideA members I2l and12a. The hinges 4 by means of-which the drop leaves are mounted areconnected to the rails I5 at their upper edges.

A vertical pedestal I6 is secured at itsupper end to each rail I5substantially midway between the ends thereof extendingdownwardlyparallel All oftliep'edestals; I6y 15,

to the center pedestal 1.

and I are provided with diverging legs I'I thelower ends of which restuponthe floor. -"I.he drop leaves are held in upper operative positionby the usual folding brackets I8 commonly used;-

with drop leaves for such purpose, one end being connected toa. leaf andthe otherl toy the adjacent rail I5.-

With; this construction the f tableY may be-,eX- tended -to either sideofthe, permanent top mem'- ber I, or at both sides thereof, It is ofcourseeviden-t that `when the extension. slidesare completelys-retractedthe-dropleaves- 2 and 3 -may vbelifted and held in horizontal position,increasinggthe area;0f;t hev top -overthat ofthe-top member I byfthecombined areas-oi the twodrop leaves 2 and-,73: In-A Figs 3 theextension. sl-idesi atone side have beenl Dill-led out and thef openv'space between the-ad-iacen-t topmember, I-and-the dropAV leafiiflled-` with -llers I9 which are ofa, special. form- That-is, "onelongitudinal edge ot each filler I9 is-recessed oi: grooved tocorrespondand beidentical twith-gthe, groovesshownA at `"i in Fig.; 1; ltheother-edgey'oi-eaclr ller leafbeinggshaped to.

make-a; rounded-rib identical Wththe rib indi-- ca-tepl-at-,Sfforreceptie-n in a groove; 5: As-shc-Wn 4oin-Fig: 4'- the grooved-4 edge-of.a-- l-ler I fwill thus cooperate iwitlrfthe-upper or inner edge .ofthedrop leaf-r3, adjacent grooyed, and ribbed edges of twof-llers-joinedgtogether, While aflongitudinal.

ribs-on ayfiller; I91-will fit la -groovez- 5 'on the ,top` IThe-fillers a-ttheirgrooved-g edges areprovidedwith-horizen-ta-lly,located holes 2i), ,asarealso AtheVthe--fllers-hailing-pins v2'I to :enter such holes: ItY may alsobe-noted that thepins Sforrztheendn members.- v8 fare-adapted. to enter'holes-'for their recept-.ion madeat the-v inner sides ,near y`theeends.;

of therails I5;

InzF-igsn'? and- 8v aifurtheriform .or'embodiment 1.

ofithebinventionrisshown.; The top la isidenti'-` callin'generaisizeandshape oriormwith; the-top:

I fofthe; previous construction.: In this .forni of the invention it ispermanently,secured to :the endgslid'es AI Lasa-shown; of the,extensible pair of slides.; The-.rails` I5 is permanently secured. to

the-:underzsideyof the topxadjacentfanf. edge. the,A bottomzmemberISfaDd-:th'eaends I4,1of-:the:.box

being;eliminated'.y The end boards; 81a have: the pinsz'fa-taoneendnonly; the1otl'iergends ot said boadszgs comingto corner postsY 22;.one atseach extensible fslides'.'`A The outer `slide .membersI2zinzfthisscoirstruction are permanentlyfco'n'nected Af. horizontalboard to a box structure I3, I-4a and I5 similar to that previouslydescribed, except the end members I4a of the box structure are ofgreater length than the members I4. At the outer end of end members I4aand at each end of the rail I5 a permanent downwardly extending cornerpost is secured. The table is thus supported by four cornerposts..v Atthe underside of the board 23 a foldablesupporting drop leg 24 ismounted which may have a construction similar to that sho-wn in UnitedStates Patent No. l2,268,042, granted December 30, 1941, or in thepending application ofMc'Fall and Langius, led November 3, 1941,SergzNo. 417;612;.which may be turned to vertical positiontri-supportthe table on full extension. With this construction the part of thetable carrying the-drop. leaf 3 may be moved away vfrom the adjacentedge'of the top Ia a distance equal toor less than the full extensionpermitted by the slides, the resulting space being filled with-l-lerleaves I9 fas. indicated in Fig.. 8';

This-'construction of table -is particularly useful and;prf-Lethall andisof@ an Veiiicieut teommereiai form fu-l-lytested ,andinpracticalmanufacture and sale.

The. invention is dened; in the; appended claims A4and is--to beconsidered-:compreh'ensive .of all forms-otr, structure coming-gw,ithi-ngthei-rscope..

I'claim;

1. In- .a table; afsolid. horizontal. top adapted ito be t positioned at1a predetermined -distance above a floor, said;top.havinglaestraightsideedge, said edge 'havinga; groove lengthwise thereofat its.-

lower t corner: portion,Y extension slides-connectedY at one 4end.thereoffto and :under the top adapted tozbeextended outwardly beyondsaidside edge,- a horizontal cross.` rail connected to the-oppositeendof theA slides and movable -outwardly and in wardly withrespect`to=said4 edge-of 'the top, saidcross rail having its upperedge-substantially inush': withi .the underside ot 'the -top at allextendedf positionsi and atV the closedposition of the slides,- ald-ropleaf, and-:hinges =conneetedto the cross: rail at1its' upper edge and to-thedrop leaf at its-innerside-and spaced ffrom the-upper horizontal`edge-of the `leaf a distance substantially equal to the greatestvertical-dimension ofd's'aid groove;- the upper edgeportion-of the -jdrop 'leaf above thehinge'having a rib -shfa-ped-for-tting into said'groove'd'fedge of' the top, saidqgrooved edge of the top having arecessthereincovered' by said rib whenfltheslides are-fully-(retracted,V

and uncovered-f when the l slides vare extended,

whereby-a -ller-leaf having-fa projection at the side ed-gethereof to-en'tersaid-'recessgm-ay be detachably-'connec'ted withV said-topandheld'v against longitudinal movement,

2.'- I'na table; ahorizontal top, depen-ding legsupportingmea-nssecured-to the top-'adjacent oneside-edge -of '-s'aidtopf thelongitudinal iside edge of f said top'oppositey said l`eg'supporting-means having grooveundercut-` from saidedge-inwardlyQ-ariddownwardly Ato the lower side-of the top: extendable slides each; havinglone endfportion-connected to the under-face ofthe topandextendable-outwardly beyond said Igrooved edge of the top, ahorizontaltransverse-ba-rconnected-- to said slides at their outer ends,depending -sup portingLmeans fixed? to said bar-*to maintain itin the.sameY planein. retractediv andial-ll' extended-'- positions of theslides. a dropi-leaf-li'inge -meansconnecting said bar and drop leaf topermit movement of said leaf from a vertical depending position to ahorizontal position and vice versa, said hinge means being connected tothe drop leaf at its inner side and spaced from its upper 5 horizontaledge a distance substantially equal to the greatest vertical dimension,of said groove, the upper edge portion of the drop leaf having a ribwhich, when the leaf is in depending position, extends above the upperedge of the bar and covers said groove in the edge of the top when saidslides are retracted, said rib having a form and shape complementary tosaid groove for entering and filling the groove when the drop leaf ismoved to horizontal position When the slides are retracted, said groovededge of the top having a plurality of horizontal pin receiving holestherein which are covered by the rib of the drop leaf when the slidesare fully retracted and said leaf is in vertical depending position.

THURLOW E. MCFALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the leof-this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

